Question 1

Why would someone integrate urban farming?

Accepted Answer

Integrating urban farming brings a range of social and environmental advantages, making it an appealing choice for communities looking to live healthier, more sustainable, and connected lives in urban areas. Benefits include fresh produce access, educational opportunities, community engagement, biodiversity support, and contribution to green building certifications.

Question 2

What is the first step to define if my building can welcome a program?

Accepted Answer

The first step to determine if your building can host a MicroHabitat program is to conduct a free site evaluation done by our team during a virtual meeting. This assessment would include evaluating the available space, sunlight exposure, water access, and structural integrity of your property.

Question 3

How do I know if my building is suitable for an urban farming project?

Accepted Answer

Requirements include at least 200 sq ft (20m2) of space, adequate sunlight (minimum 6 hours daily), accessible water sources, and safe roof access if applicable. Our team can assess your specific situation during a free consultation.

Question 4

Can I get points for my building from green building certifications?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our programs support LEED, BOMA, BOMA BEST, GRESB, Fitwel, and WELL certifications. The specific credits depend on the project scale and scope.

Question 5

Do you offer indoor production solutions?

Accepted Answer

Yes, MicroHabitat offers an indoor unit which produces year-long growth through our turn-key solution. These are perfect for lobbies, cafeterias, and dedicated growing spaces.

Question 6

Why was MicroHabitat created?

Accepted Answer

MicroHabitat was founded to address urban food insecurity by transforming underutilized city spaces into productive ecological gardens, promoting sustainability and community connection to food sources.

Question 7

What is the history of MicroHabitat?

Accepted Answer

Established in Montreal in 2016, MicroHabitat has grown to become the largest network of urban farms in North America, now operating across multiple cities in Canada, the USA, and Europe.

Question 8

Where is MicroHabitat implemented?

Accepted Answer

Our projects operate across North America and Europe on rooftops, terraces, and ground spaces of businesses, schools, and organizations in over 20 major cities.

Question 9

Is MicroHabitat a franchise?

Accepted Answer

No, MicroHabitat is a single company with dedicated full-time employees and offices across multiple regions. We maintain consistent quality and service across all our locations.

Question 10

Does the installation modify my building or space?

Accepted Answer

No permanent changes occur. Our grow pots are designed with your property in mind - there's no drilling or digging required. Everything can be removed without leaving a trace.

Question 11

How much space do I need to get an urban farm?

Accepted Answer

A minimum of 200 sq ft (20m2) of accessible space is required for an outdoor farm. Indoor solutions can work with smaller spaces.

Question 12

What are the requirements to have an urban farm?

Accepted Answer

You need adequate space (minimum 200 sq ft) plus a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight daily for outdoor farms. Indoor farms have more flexible requirements.

Question 13

Is it safe to add a farm to a roof location?

Accepted Answer

Our ultra-light grow pots typically don't compromise roof load capacity. We always recommend consulting your building engineer, and we report universal approval from engineers we've worked with.

Question 14

What insurance coverage do you offer?

Accepted Answer

Our programs include liability coverage of 5 million dollars for commercial, automobile and excess liability, giving you complete peace of mind.

Question 15

How does the program work?

Accepted Answer

Our turn-key programs include installation, ecological irrigation systems, planting, weekly maintenance visits, harvesting and delivery, educational activities, and marketing tools. Outdoor farms work almost anywhere outdoors; indoor units work almost anywhere indoors.

Question 16

What is included in the program?

Accepted Answer

Our comprehensive package includes: installation, ecological irrigation system, seasonal planting, weekly maintenance visits, harvesting and drop-off, educational activities, marketing tools, and corporate gifts (depending on your selected package).

Question 17

What happens with the fresh produce?

Accepted Answer

You choose! Options include internal distribution to building occupants or employees, or donation to local food banks through our Urban Solidarity Farms program which runs from July to October.

Question 18

What is MyUrbanFarm?

Accepted Answer

MyUrbanFarm is our digital platform that connects you directly with your urban farm. It allows you to track your farm's progress, view harvest schedules, access educational resources, and communicate with our farming team—all from your phone or computer. Every MicroHabitat client gets free access to MyUrbanFarm as part of their program.

Question 19

How is the MicroHabitat program engaging with occupants?

Accepted Answer

Our programs include a minimum of two educational activities covering ecological farming practices, seed saving, composting, and related sustainability topics.

Question 20

Do you have different types of activities?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We offer interactive kiosks, guided garden visits, and educational workshops. Activities can be customized to your organization's needs and interests.

Question 21

Do you offer online activities?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our virtual workshops cover ecological farming, maintenance best practices, winterization, seed saving, crop succession planning, and pollinator support.

Question 22

Do you offer activities for all age groups?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! All our educational activities are designed to be stimulating for individuals of all ages, from children to seniors.

Question 23

Can we partner with MicroHabitat?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We welcome partnerships with commercial real estate companies, corporations, schools, food banks, and community organizations. Contact us to discuss collaboration opportunities.

Question 24

Do you work with food banks?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our Urban Solidarity Farms program connects our partner properties with local food banks to donate fresh produce and support food security in communities.

Question 25

How do I get started with MicroHabitat?

Accepted Answer

Simply book a demo through our website or contact us directly. We'll schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals and assess your property's potential.

Question 26

What is the timeline for installation?

Accepted Answer

After signing, installation typically occurs within 4-6 weeks, depending on the season and project scope. We coordinate with your schedule to minimize disruption.

Question 27

Do building occupants need to access the installation?

Accepted Answer

Access is not required for our maintenance team to do their work. However, accessibility may be desired for tenant engagement or to qualify for certain green building certification credits.

Question 28

How do you create safe farming spaces on roofs without guardrails?

Accepted Answer

We create minimum safety clearance per local guidelines and contain all gardens within a localized perimeter away from roof edges. Safety is always our top priority.

Question 29

Can I have an urban farm if wild animals are present?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our large textile pots prevent most animal interference. For areas with deer, we recommend additional fencing solutions which we can help implement.

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